British Isles

The British Isles are a group of islands located off the northwest coast of mainland Europe. They lie in the Atlantic Ocean and are separated from the continent by the English Channel and the North Sea. The two largest islands are Great Britain and Ireland. Many smaller islands surround them, such as the Isle of Man and the Hebrides.

Great Britain is the larger of the two main islands. It includes England, Scotland, and Wales. Ireland is the second largest island and is divided into two political areas. The larger part is the Republic of Ireland. The smaller part, called Northern Ireland, is part of the United Kingdom. The British Isles is a geographical term that describes the islands, not a political unit.

The seas around the British Isles include the Irish Sea, the North Sea, and the Celtic Sea. These waters have shaped travel, trade, and settlement for thousands of years. A sea is a large body of salt water connected to an ocean. The coastlines of the islands are long and varied, with cliffs, beaches, and bays.

The climate of the British Isles is generally mild. This means temperatures are not extreme. Winters are usually cool rather than very cold, and summers are often mild. Rainfall is common because moist air comes from the Atlantic Ocean. The weather can change quickly, especially near the coast and in higher areas.

People have lived in the British Isles since prehistoric times. Prehistoric means a time before written records. Over time, many different groups settled on the islands, including the Celts, Romans, Anglo-Saxons, Vikings, and Normans. Each group left marks on language, place names, and buildings.

Today, the British Isles contain many cities, towns, and rural areas. Large rivers, such as the Thames and the Shannon, flow across the islands. Mountains are found in Scotland, Wales, and parts of Ireland, while flatter land is common in southern England. The British Isles continue to be an important geographic region of Europe.